Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book. I have not had a chance to read any other books by this author, but I did enjoy this one. This thriller is fast paced, and a enjoyable read.

Thank you for the gifted copy! This was an intriguing premise that sadly fell a bit flat for me. I was let down by the conclusion, it felt like it both came out of nowhere (too convenient) and was predictable. I wasn’t a huge fan of the large historical plot components, but I understand that this may enhance the story for other readers. Great characters, intriguing premise - the execution left me disappointed.

What an unforgettable ending! Throughout the book, I thought I had all the twists figured out, but the final moments completely shifted my perspective. As someone who loves a good Italy travel story with a mystery mixed in, this book was a delight—engaging, unexpected, and full of surprises.

"The Main Character" by Jaclyn Goldis is the rare mystery that reads like a contemporary fiction book. The story is a unique idea, and while it starts out like a typical mystery, it turns into a story that spans decades and countries, drawing in a lot of historical context. It was like several stories that all came together in the end in a very surprising way! This book wasn't necessarily what I expected, but it was better than I imagined! I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book. While I did not finish the book, I do not want to persuade anyone to not read it with my review. I do not usually read mystery books and I requested this one because of the description. It sounded exciting to me, a thriller writer arranges the trip on the Orient Express for her latest main character who is surprised to find her family and friends also on the train. However, I just was not able to get through the book. I do not think it is poorly written, it is just not my cup of tea so I will leave it with an average 3 stars.

The Main Character attempts to capture the tension and intrigue of a classic thriller, but ultimately falls short in delivering a satisfying experience. The premise—a reclusive bestselling author, Ginevra Ex, who invites a group of inter-related characters on a luxurious train trip that turns out to be more sinister than it appears—has great potential. However, the execution feels heavy-handed and convoluted. The narrative, which should be filled with suspense, instead becomes weighed down by too many POVs and characters who never quite come to life. Ginevra, as the central antagonist, lacks the depth necessary to be truly compelling, while Rory, the supposed protagonist, feels more like a passive observer than an active player in her own story.

The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis is a thriller set on the revamped Orient Express travelling through Italy. Ginerva is a famous Italian author, comparable to Agatha Christie, with an unusual writing technique. Ginerva picks a real person to use as the main character in her book, meets them, interviews them, and uses that information to write her books. Rory has just lost her job as a newcaster and is taking time to figure out how to get back on her feet. When Ginerva contacts Rory about becoming the new main character in her new book, Rory accepts the offer, thinking it will give her more time to figure out her future (and some money in the meantime).

This book was marketed as a thriller, but reads more like a family drama - and a slow paced one at that. There are a multitude of characters who are mostly boring - there is so much analyzing and inner thoughts that it was almost too much. There were a few twists thrown in, but not enough to keep my attention very long and it took me too long to get through this book. There were multiple POVs, which I usually enjoy, but the characters did not captivate me like I was hoping. The Italian setting was awesome and I loved that they were on the Orient Express and the subtle nods to Agatha Christie, but was hoping the train ride would be more.

This was my first novel by Jaclyn Goldis. While this one wasn't necessarily my cup of tea it does have some great reviews out there and I will be looking forward to trying another novel by this author.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis is a gripping, twisty thriller set on a luxurious Mediterranean cruise, where an exclusive writing retreat turns deadly. With its layered mysteries and shocking reveals, this book is perfect for fans of suspenseful whodunits!

Jaclyn Goldis penned absolute gold with this.

If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, this is a MUST READ. Setting back to the Orient Express, this new modern take on locked room mystery mixed with the horrors of the Soviet Union was multi POV magic.

When I thought I was right, I was very very wrong. 5 stars

I was totally into the idea of a luxury train and that whole locked-in atmosphere. It felt really fresh and unique. However, there were a few things that I struggled to ignore. For one, I found the characters pretty unlikable, which made it hard for me to connect with the story. I did pick up some cool facts along the way that I appreciated, but by the end, I was left with some unanswered questions that kind of bugged me. If you can vibe with the characters, I think you’ll have a good time. I just couldn’t look past their flaws, haha.

Well this book is a wild ride, both literally and figuratively. Set on the Orient Express, four people find themselves on a semi-forced vacation at the request of a mysterious, and reclusive author, Ginerva Ex. At the center of the group, Rory, was rewarded this trip as a final thank you for being the inspiration of Ginerva's latest novel. Rory, however doesn;t know that three close family members and friends from her past are also on the train. As the group travels from city to city, secrets come unraveled and tension grow as paranoia sets in.

The Main Character has a very intriguing premise and sets the reader on edge with surprises set for the main protagonist, Rory, from the first pages. The unknown author, Ginerva, almost uses these people as her puppets, shaping her next novel by her whims and as the reader I found the plot twists to be well placed and unexpected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this novel.

I was drawn in by the cover on this but the book didn’t quite live up to cover. I loved the premise of an author basing her characters off real people and then deciding to send them all on a trip on the Orient Express as a surprise but it was so boring. The pacing was so slow and very little happened. The best parts of this book was the scenes describing where they traveled too. I enjoyed some of the small dramas but the stakes were so low it wasn’t enough to carry this book and keep me interested. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

The premise of this book sounded really exciting at first, but sadly, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. It's not like an Agatha Christie mystery at all, and there’s no real murder to solve, which was a bit of a letdown. While the book is okay, it doesn't deliver on what it claims to be.

The plot had potential, with the idea of a contemporary Orient Express and a mystery around Ginevra, but it didn’t quite stick the landing. Some parts of the story felt like they were lifted straight from Christie’s novels, which made it feel a bit unoriginal.

I’ll admit, I enjoyed the first half of the book; it had an interesting start. But as the story went on, it took a turn that felt a bit all over the place. Too much was happening at once, and the point of view kept switching from chapter to chapter, which made it hard to keep track of who was speaking and what was going on.

The main character’s storyline had promise, but it wasn’t until the very end that anything exciting really happened. By that point, there were still a lot of unanswered questions, and the ending felt rushed and abrupt.

Overall, while I wasn’t wowed by this novel, it wasn’t awful. It’s fine if you need something to read, but it didn’t really leave a lasting impression on me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Jaclyn Goldis. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

Ginevra Ex is a famous author who is known for writing her mystery novels based on a real person. For her next book, she picks Rory, a disgraced newscaster, and offers her a lot of money for telling Ginerva her story. When the novel is completed, Ginerva gifts Rory with a train ride through Italy. But Rory is surprised to see that Ginerva also invited her estranged brother, her ex-boyfriend, and her best friend. Just what is she planning? And who can Rory trust?

This book was promoted as being an Agatha Christie type locked-room mystery, and while it did take place on the Orient Express, it didn't have the same tight mystery as I was expecting. There were quite a few characters and the POV changed often, so I found myself a bit confused at times. This is a very character-driven novel, more so than a mystery. I enjoyed the descriptions of the various locales as well as the historical aspects.

Trains are everywhere in Europe! I could feel the suspense building with each stop.
Wishing for more train focus since they are on a train but the book mostly focused on their interactions with each other.

I enjoyed the alternating time lines and how the story's intertwined at the end.

I liked this locked room mystery that is a modern homage to Agatha Christie's famous novels. Reclusive author, Ginevra Ex, writes her bestselling books by researching the lives of real people. Her latest main character, Rory, is invited on the newly renovated Orient Express. When Rory arrives, she discovers that several people from her life are also invited and all of them harbor secrets. Ginevra orchestrated a real life mystery as secrets and twists are revealed. I liked that there are several POVs in the this book and we get to learn about all the characters as the book goes on. There are elements of the mystery that are revealed with each chapter and that kept me engaged throughout. I did find that the beginning and middle are slower than the ending. The pace really picks up at the end and most of the questions I had are answered. The ending is pretty abrupt that leaves the actual outcome a little open ended. I thought that was pretty well done, but I would have liked some closure. The characters are fairly unlikeable, but I enjoy reading about unlikeable characters in thrillers, they usually add to the plot and I feel like these characters did. Overall, I think this was a decent thriller and I liked the homage to Agatha Christie's novels. I enjoyed the audiobook as well and the writing kept me engaged.

Loved the cover, but the inside was just a mess. I feel like this was Agatha Christie shaken in a bag and dumped out pieces together by a computer.

The Main Character was unlike any other story I've ever read. It was a very different main plot that I don't think any other book has ever had. It was incredibly mysterious, untraditional and unexpected. I loved every second of it. I would say while the first half of the book was super slow and a little boring, you wanted to keep reading because you knew it was going to pay off. Goldis is an incredible writer that has a way of revealing secrets line by line, instead of one word vomiting monologue.

The Main Character is such a unique novel, with so much story it's hard to explain how everything becomes intertwined. If you love mysteries and want a dramatic Italian vacation, you will love this book.

Everyone wants to recreate Christie's fantastic mystery, but like the others, this falls short of the goal. Unlikeable characters and a plot that goes nowhere fast make for a slog hidden behind a gorgeous cover.

I love Agatha Christie so the prospect of this cozy mystery had my really excited. The plot is pretty original. I love the idea of a modern-day Orient Express, and the purpose of the surprise luxurious train trip is unique. The setting is fun and exotic but ultimately, I found this book really hard to get into and the characters were generally unlikable, which works for some but sadly not for me.